DALLAS, Texas — Two executives from a Texas tax preparation company have been federally indicted for allegedly filing fraudulent tax returns, according to the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas.
Terrance Hatley, a 33-year-old from McKinney, Texas, and Jason Pogue, a 45-year-old from Dallas, Texas, are accused of conspiring to file false tax returns through Hatley’s business, Empowered Finances, formerly known as Griggs Financial, located in Addison, Texas. The indictment alleges that from 2020 to 2023, the fraudulent returns sought false refunds by either fabricating businesses with large losses or claiming Coronavirus leave credits under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. Customers were reportedly charged about a third of the fraudulent refund amount as a tax preparation fee.
Hatley and Pogue face charges of conspiracy to defraud the United States, with Hatley facing 23 counts and Pogue 10 counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns. If convicted, each defendant could face a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the conspiracy charge and three years for each of the other charges…